Information for Existing Delegated Authority Vendors

Vendors, their employees, interns, volunteers, and if applicable, subcontractors, who have access to children and families during the performance of their job duties must be free from criminal and abuse history that could pose a safety risk to service recipients. All current and future employees, interns, volunteers, and if applicable, subcontractors, that provide such services must complete background checks which include TBI/FBI fingerprint checks, local law enforcement checks, along with an Internet Records Clearance that involves a background check of the following: Drug Offender Registry Clearance, TN Felony Offender Database Clearance, National Sexual Offender Registry Clearance, and Department of Health Abuse Registry Clearance.

For Persons Currently Providing Services as Identified on Staff Rosters

Vendors must:

1. Upon approval, have all direct service staff, complete applicable background check(s), obtain and review the results of all required background checks and provide results/dates checks were conducted to DCS on form CS-0687- Background Check Checklist.
2. Vendors are required to notify DCS if the individual vendor, an employee, intern, volunteer, or if applicable, subcontractor working with DCS clients commit any malfeasance during the period the provider is approved to provide services. Notifications must be made promptly and sent to the Regional Fiscal Director and Regional Administrator.
   • Annually complete the Internet Records Clearance that involves a background check of the following: Drug Offender Registry Clearance, TN Felony Offender Database Clearance, National Sexual Offender Registry Clearance, and Department of Health Abuse Registry Clearance.
     

For Persons Not Currently Providing Services as Identified on Staff Rosters

1. Vendors must notify the Office of Child Mental Health when a person who was previously approved intends to begin providing a type of service other than that they were approved to provide. Notification must include:
   • The name of the person involved,
   • The specific service type(s) the person may currently provide,
   • All information requested on a staff roster,
   • The person's qualifications,
   • Proof of qualification(s) (such as licenses, certifications, special training), and
2. Vendors must notify the Office of Child Mental Health when a new employee, intern, or volunteer will be utilized to provide services. Notification must include:
   • The name of the person involved,
   • All information requested on a staff roster (including the specific service type(s), related job duties involved), proof of qualification(s) (such as licenses, certifications, special training), and
   • Proof all required background checks were conducted and provide results/dates to DCS on form CS-0687- Background Check Checklist

Policies & Forms

• CS-0559, Authorization of Release of Information and HIPAA Protected Health Information TO and FROM the Department of Children’s Services and Notification of Release
• CS-0687, Background Check History, and IV-E Eligibility Checklist
• CS-0741, Database Search Results